Arts calendar
February 23, 2009
FEBRUARY
25th
The final week of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” is through March 1 at the Frances J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St. N. Tickets are $22-$58. Call 392-2202 or go to www.villagetheatre.org. Read more
Liberty swimmer sets school record in 500 freestyle at state
February 23, 2009
Overall, Patriots finish in 15th place
Logan Briggs, of Liberty, leaps at the starting horn for his 100-meter backstroke 3A state championship finals heat Feb. 21. Briggs finished seventh in the backstroke and fourth in the 500-yard freestyle. By Alex Bell
As the Liberty High School team prepared to compete in the 2009 Class 3A State Boys Swim and Dive Championships Feb. 20, head coach Kris Daughters warned freshman standout Logan Briggs that he “pulled a mini-Phelps.”
She compared Briggs’s tight state schedule to that of Michael Phelps, who swam in eight events, some back-to-back, in last summer’s Beijing Olympics.
Briggs, who was shooting for a school record in the 500-yard freestyle, also competed in the 200-yard freestyle relay, the 100-yard backstroke and the 400-yard freestyle relay. All four events happen within about 40 minutes or so, Daughters said. Read more
Grapplers see mixed results
February 23, 2009
Nolan Richards, of Skyline, wrestles an opponent in the 130-pound division of the 4A state championships. Richards finished eighth. By Scott Morton
When you put 850 high school wrestlers on 24 mats in the same room and have them wrestle for two days straight, with all of their parents cheering, you have a lot of fun. But you also have a lot of sweat, a lot of joy and a lot of tears.
Wrestlers from Skyline, Issaquah and Liberty high schools experienced a mixture of that Feb. 20 and 21 during the Washington State Mat Classic Wrestling Championships at the Tacoma Dome. Read more
Mercer Island snatches KingCo title from Patriot girls with 60-56 win
February 23, 2009
Breanne Faehnrich (right), Liberty junior guard, loses the ball while going to the basket in the fourth quarter as Mercer Island junior forward Kate DaPron (left) defends during the 3A KingCo Basketball Tournament championship game. By Greg Farrar
Mercer Island used an explosive third quarter against Liberty High School’s Patriots to win the KingCo 3A tournament title, 60-56, at Bellevue Community College on Feb. 20.
The Islanders (17-5) scored 21 points in the third quarter, led by two 3-pointers each by Hailey Gullstad and Jae Shin. Mercer Island’s Janelle Chow hit two free throws with 4:35 remaining in the game to put the Islanders up by nine. Read more
Eagles fail to qualify for finals
February 23, 2009
Miranda Jones, of Liberty, performs her floor exercise routine Feb. 20 in 3A individual competition, collecting an 8.575 in the event. By Greg Farrar
The Issaquah gymnastics team placed several athletes in the top 20, yet wasn’t able to advance anyone to the finals at the Class 4A championships Feb. 20 at the Tacoma Dome.
Several Eagles just missed moving on to the finals at the event, won by fellow KingCo foe Woodinville.
“I’m happy. I think they all did pretty well,” Issaquah head coach Ryan Fleisher said. “We had a couple of girls right there on the edge and they just missed qualifying. But everybody was in the top 20, so I’m pleased.” Read more
Sports calendar
February 23, 2009
Adult Sports
Issaquah Alps Trail Club
March 1, 9:30 a.m. — High Point Loop, 7 miles. Call 228-6118. Read more
Newcastle Elementary School teaches more than the ABCs
February 23, 2009
Teacher Irene Yang shows her advanced Mandarin Chinese students, like Jacob Hepp, 9, how to use chopsticks during a Chinese New Year celebration. By Chantelle Lusebrink
Learning one language is hard enough, but learning a language without letters seems nearly impossible. Students at Newcastle Elementary School, though, aren’t letting Mandarin Chinese scare them away.
“I’m not Chinese in any way, but I wanted to learn how to speak a language, because it’s cool,” said Steffan Ortega, 10. “I also wanted to learn how to make cool characters.”
The program started three years ago to incorporate foreign language into children’s education at an early age, said founder Kimberly Eickerman. Read more
Too much emphasis placed on sports achievements
February 23, 2009
Hall Monitor Carla Mokin Liberty High School
As Americans, we focus a considerable portion of our lives on sports. We watch basketball intensely during March madness, take our sons and daughters to afternoon baseball games, and dedicate entire Sundays to the Super Bowl.
Sports are an important facet of the American lifestyle and should be practiced, honored and celebrated. But when does the obsession with sports go too far?
When society starts to value people not for their character or wisdom, but for their physical prowess, it reinforces the idea that education is not essential to success. Read more
ArtEAST online auction concludes Saturday
February 23, 2009
NEW — 10 a.m. Feb. 23, 2008
Online bidding closes Saturday for artEAST’s benefit art auction, which includes works from artists throughout the Northwest.
All proceeds benefit the Issaquah art community.
The artwork is on display at UP Front Gallery, 48 Front St. N.
A closing party will be held from 6-9 p.m. at UP Front. Complimentary appetizers and refreshments will be served.
Go here to see the auction catalog and place your bid.
Bring questions to Black Nugget Road meeting Tuesday
February 22, 2009
NEW — 12:01 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008
Residents with questions about the proposed opening of Black Nugget Road to the Issaquah Highlands will gather Tuesday night, as city officials consider whether to pursue the effort. A request to the city to open the road to the highlands has galvanized residents opposed to the idea.
The meeting is designed to foster discussion among highlands residents about the proposed opening. Several residents have voiced opposition to the proposal.
